http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/02/06/lunchtime-quickie-lets-play-whos-the-bigger-asshole Comments On: Lunchtime Quickie: Let's Play Who's The Bigger Asshole... by Kelly O en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by lolorhone]]> Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:44:47 -0800 The Stranger definition of pearl clutching, along with all the overexaggerated claims of how this is going to ruin her forever.
Posted by Matt from Denver]]> Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:54:11 -0800 The Stranger
Who has no qualms about wasting tax payer dollars to avenge his own insecurely imagined slights.

He should be disbarred.
Posted by joemomma]]> Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:20:18 -0800 The Stranger
And yes, she's the idiot.

http://dlisted.com/2013/02/08/girl-who-g…
Posted by sissoucat]]> Sat, 09 Feb 2013 07:48:08 -0800 The Stranger
A finding of criminal contempt, which requires a formal prosecution and a finding of guilt, permits a party to be punished for some kind of wrongdoing in the court. See, e.g., R.C.W. 7.21.040 or Fed. R. Crim. P. 42. Although the judge says he's finding the druggie girl "in direct criminal contempt," he doesn't actually have the power to do so.

The judge could have found her in civil contempt, but then he couldn't have punished her by sending her to jail--he could only have sent her to jail until she complied with the rules and orders of the court (e.g. I'm sending you to jail until you're ready to behave with respect in my courtroom).

A judge who doesn't give a shit about the rule of law is definitely a bigger asshole than a teenager who doesn't give a shit about the decorum and majesty of an asshole judge.

Posted by He may be the judge, but he's also an asshole]]> Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:08:18 -0800 The Stranger
I respectfully submit "In Defense of Flogging" by Peter Moskos.
Posted by More prisoners than soldiers; more guards than Marines]]> Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:49:29 -0800 The Stranger
There are places where we expect a minimum standard of behavior. Court in session is one of those places. Her actions here don't meet that low bar.
Posted by clashfan]]> Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:57:54 -0800 The Stranger
@57 - The horrifying aspect isn't being called a pearl-clutcher but the callous minimizing of incarcerating young offenders that it implies. I think that people should really lay off the systematic portrayal of a society under constant assault by deviants found in the corporate media for it is taking a toll on their ability to be compassionate and ultimately to be effective in addressing societal ills.
Posted by anon1256]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:32:30 -0800 The Stranger Posted by aureolaborealis]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:00:12 -0800 The Stranger Posted by aureolaborealis]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:53:01 -0800 The Stranger
As for developmental age:
The prefrontal cortex is one of the last regions of the brain to reach maturation. This delay may help to explain why some adolescents act the way they do. The so-called “executive functions” of the human prefrontal cortex include:

Focusing attention
Organizing thoughts and problem solving
Foreseeing and weighing possible consequences of behavior
Considering the future and making predictions
Forming strategies and planning
Ability to balance short-term rewards with long term goals
Shifting/adjusting behavior when situations change
Impulse control and delaying gratification
Modulation of intense emotions
Inhibiting inappropriate behavior and initiating appropriate behavior
Simultaneously considering multiple streams of information when faced with complex and challenging information

This brain region gives an individual the capacity to exercise “good judgment” when presented with difficult life situations. Brain research indicating that brain development is not complete until near the age of 25, refers specifically to the development of the prefrontal cortex.

http://www.hhs.gov/opa/familylife/tech_a…
Posted by anon1256]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:26:32 -0800 The Stranger Posted by sirkowski]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:49:07 -0800 The Stranger Posted by anon1256]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:26:57 -0800 The Stranger http://cdn.popdust.com/wp-content/upload…

I think this girl is high as a kite. Watch her eyes.
Posted by Kelly O]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:13:51 -0800 The Stranger Posted by aureolaborealis]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:15:16 -0800 The Stranger
Cracked: The question isn't "Do you support the drug war?" (I don't.) The question is "Who's the bigger asshole?" The most charitable interpretation I can summon up is that she is high and stupid.

@49: Yeah.

Some of you who know more may wish to correct me, but doesn't $5,000 bail mean you need to come up with $50, and $10,000 means you need to come up with $100? Unless, of course, you plan to jump bail. Am I at least in the ballpark?
Posted by aureolaborealis]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:13:13 -0800 The Stranger
Anyway, I'll caution you against making assumptions about her situation. Courts have a very long habit of encouraging people NOT to represent themselves, not because judges are lawyers in league who are doing it for their profession, but because lay people are very unqualified to represent themselves in court. That said, the right to pro se representation is guaranteed and courts always respect it. So if you have a REASON to believe she was "forced" into appearing pro se, you should state it.

Anyway, I'm all in favor of flip defendants getting contempt of court sentences. The pearl clutchers claiming that her life will be ruined should keep in mind that a) that was either already assured if this was a felony conviction (which I doubt, but you never know), and b) contempt of court jailings are NOT part of a felony record.
Posted by Matt from Denver]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:28:04 -0800 The Stranger Posted by lotus eater]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:31:51 -0800 The Stranger Posted by robotslave]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 03:19:21 -0800 The Stranger
The drug war is bullshit, and this admittedly clueless young woman did not deserve what she got from this power-tripping asshole of a judge. A few days community service? Sure, that might make sense. But 30 days in jail? Sorry, i don't give a shit what she said to the judge - she should never have been put in that position. Shame on Florida, and shame on our entire country for the bogus War On Drugs!
Posted by blackhook]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:43:34 -0800 The Stranger
And what is the deal here? One count of possession for each pill? Are you kidding me? You all like this shit?
Posted by cracked]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:08:26 -0800 The Stranger Posted by cracked]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:00:33 -0800 The Stranger
She didn't even have a lawyer to speak for her or keep her out of trouble. Rich folks have lawyers to keep them from saying stupid shit. Do any of you actually understand that is what lawyers are there for, to act as intermediaries for people who are ignorant of the workings of the law or how to act in court?

You all claim she is at fault, yet how many of you charged with a crime are foolish enough to choose to represent yourself in court proceedings. This young woman appears to have been FORCED to represent herself. A defendant with true representation would have gone over all the standard questions ahead of time with their attorney and had their attorney speak for them.

Actually, here in King Co., at least as of ten years ago, the public defenders usually do a pretty good job of trying to keep people from hurting themselves through their ignorance.

Posted by cracked]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:56:00 -0800 The Stranger Posted by TreGibbs]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:17:30 -0800 The Stranger Posted by aureolaborealis]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:31:36 -0800 The Stranger